A meeting was held on Friday at Parliament between Prime Minister Dr. Harini Amarasuriya and a delegation from the Gates Foundation, led by Global Development Chair Dr. Chris Elias. This marked Dr. Elias’s first visit to Sri Lanka, during which he expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions.
Dr. Elias stated that the Gates Foundation is ready to collaborate with Sri Lanka, particularly in improving maternal and child nutrition and promoting digital innovation in agriculture. He highlighted the Foundation’s ongoing efforts to support similar initiatives across Asia.
Prime Minister Amarasuriya welcomed the Foundation’s interest, acknowledging its contributions to addressing malnutrition and advancing digital development in the region. She presented Sri Lanka’s school mid-day meal program and emphasized the need for strong external support to meet the country’s nutritional goals for children.
The Prime Minister also briefed the delegation on the Digital Education Task Force, established under her office to lead the integration of digital technology in teaching, learning, and education administration. She requested the Foundation’s support for both the task force and the broader education reforms scheduled to begin in 2026.
In response, the Gates Foundation representatives assured their commitment to partnering with Sri Lankan stakeholders in both nutrition and digital education initiatives.
The meeting was also attended by senior officials, including Secretary to the Prime Minister Pradeep Saputhanthri, Additional Secretary Sagarika Bogahawatte, and Gates Foundation regional leaders Dr. Jamal Khan and Archana Vyas.
